Mechanical toy



`April 15, 1930. J. w. THOMPSON MECHANICAL TOY Drignal Filed Aug. 13, 1926 Patented Apr, 15, 1930 UNITED STATES IPATENT OFFICE JOIIN w. THOMPSON, or OAK PARK, ILLINOIS, AssIGNoR To IIvIAnsHALL FIELD a COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORIQORATION .or ILLINOIS MECHANICAL TOY Original application filed August 13, 1926, Serial No. 128,941. Divided and this application filed` April 28, 1928. SerialNo. 273,741.

My invention relates to improvements in mechanical toys and more especially the type having a platform mounted on wheels and adapted to be drawn on the ground, and having mounted thereon a plurality of objects attractive to the eye which are moved through connections with the rotating axle to create a combined visual eifect.

This application is a division of my former application, Serial No. 128,941, filed August 13, 1926, for improvements in mechanical toys.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a platform, mounted on wheels and axle, and which forms a support for a plurality of movable objects which may be either animate or geometrical, or a combination of these, each havin a reversing movement and so positioned relgatively to each other that they, collectively, create a novel visual effect.

Another object of my invention is to provide a mechanical toy of this type, the objects mounted thereon being driven through the instrumentality of mechanism connected with the rotating axle so as to` give the desired mechanical movement.

Another obj ect of my invention is to pro vide a driving means for this type of mechanical toy, comprising mutilated gearing which is adapted to mesh with other gear elements so as to alternately drive the mounted objects in a given direction and allow them to be moved in a reverse direction when not in mesh.

In my invention I have provided a platform mounted on wheels and axle and, On which two animate Objects are mounted for combined movement but in which the driving power from the axle is imparted to only one, the second object deriving its motion from the first. In this case also I have provided a mutilated gear which drives in one direction when in mesh but allows a reverse movement through the instrumentality of spring means when the blank portion of the gear is presented.

The Objects of my invention will be more fully understood from the following detail description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in cross section of a device Constructed in `accordance with my invention in which movement in one direction is effected by spring means.

"By referringto the .drawing itwill lbe noted that `my invention comprises -a platform 3() mounted on axle 31 and wheel 32; On the under sideof platform 30 a slideway 33 is provided whichis adapted to receivethe rack member 34, the rack member being provided at one end with a pedestal 35 `oI-1"whichis mounted an animal, such as al donkey designated at 36. At the opposite end of the pla-tform is mounted a springplate 37 attached by rivets such as those shown; at 38, on the other end of which is mounted aman, ,such as a clown `39, in a position to give the ett'ect of pulling the donkey, the arms of the clownand the donkey being connected by an elasticband 10. Mutilated gear 42 is-iixed on the axle 31 and is adapted to mesh with the rack element 84 so as to move the latter to the right, as shown in the drawing, together with the donkey against the elastic tension of the band 40, and later to allow a release of the rack element so that it may return in the slide under the iniiuence of the elastic band.

In operation, the ground wheel is adapted to rotate clockwise to move the donkey to the right at which time he pulls the clown forward, apparently resisting this movement through the connection 40, the clown being free to move by virtue of the resilience of the spring metal plate 37. When the gear rotates to the point Where it no longer meshes with the rack, the rack is free to slide rapidly to the left, as shown in the drawing under the influence of the elastic band 40 and the spring 37 on which the clown is mounted. This operation gives the appearance of the donkey yielding to the pull of the clown. v

The above detailed description and the accompanying drawing illustrate the preferred embodiment of my invention, the scope of which, however, is set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A toy comprising a platform, wheels and axle for said platform, a mutilated gear on said axle, a sliding object on said platform, a rack connected to said object in mesh with said gear, a second object yieldingly fixed on said platform and an elastic means connecting said objects.

5 2. A toy comprising a platform, wheels and axle, an object 'eldingly fixed on said platform, a second ogiect mounted for reciprocation on said platform, elastic means connecting said objects urgin said objects in approachin directions, an gearing on said axle and oject, alternately in and out of mesh when said axle rotates, to alternately move said second object in one direction against the opposition of said elastic means 1r and to leave it free to return under the influence of said elastic means, said rst object deriving movement from said elastic means when said second object moves away from said first object.

3. A to com risin a platform, wheels and axle or said) lat orm, a spring mounting on said plat orm and an object fixed to said spring mounting, a second object on said platform mounted for reciprocation, means connecting said second object with said axle to derive movement therefrom in a direction away from said first object at one period, said second object being disconnected from said axle for another period, and elastic su means connecting said first and second objects tending to move said objects in approaching directions.

Signed at Chicago, Illinois, this 14th day of April, 1928. :m JOHN W. THOMPSON. 

